Noninflammable sound picture screen



June 2, 1931. w. J. scHooNMAKER 1,808,078

NONINFLAMMABLE SOUND PICTURE SCREEN y Filed Nov. l2, 1929 INVENTOR Wiliam J Schoon maker Patented June 2, 1931 winnen .1. scnoommxnn, or NEW Yoax, N. r.'

NON-'INFLAMMABLE SOUND PICTURE SUREEN- Applic'ationlei November 12, 1929, Serial No. 406,559.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sound picture screens of the classl adapted for the reproduction of talking pictures, and it has been a special object of this device to incorporate. in this connection as an outstandingand very important feature, the great advantage of non-inflammability.

A furtherobject of this device has been to construct and build a sound picture' screen wherein the numerous defects hitherto found and obstacles 4met have been eliminated, and wherein the cooperation of a picture display with the reproduction of sound has attained the desired state of perfection.

Hitherto the screens employed on the moving picture stage, the so called talking films, were made with one object in mind, that is,to yield the most effective reflection according to the` individual surroundings. l

However, as the science relative to sounds" has reached a` stage, where the phonetics may be controlled and ina certain sense embodied 25 and made to cooperate with a film dis lay,

it has become incumbent to devise a me lum in the form of a screen which would ofer suitable' conditions to the passage of sounds and at thes'ame time avoid impairing the reection of light thrown upon the screen for the display of a talking picture.

Furthermore recent occurrences and unfortunateincidents due to fires, caused directly and indirectly by the use and storage of iniammable films, have aroused pubhc sentiment and the authorities tov such-a deree, that an uncompromisingl demandhas een made that every effort and endeavor be bent upon solvin the problem of providing 40 a non-inflammab e sound picture screen that would be tlameproof and safe to Yall intents and purposes under any circumstances. v

The objects above stated have been kept in view in the construction of this device, as the latter presents a perfect reiiective surface with a minimum of resistance to the passage of sound. At the same time it has further been possible through extensive research work and experiments to make the said 5 screen not only non-inflammable andflameuntil the introduction of proof butimpervious to anyevaporation or deterioration due to exposure to the air or contact. with water.

The device, as will be hereinafter further described consists of ay woven material in which through a speciically designed pattern of weaving an immense number of very iine interstices exist among the threads and in addition to the latter the said material has also been provided with larger air spaces G0 woven among the threads. By thusemploy- 4ing a special pattern or design in the weaving of the material, as will be clearly seen from the accompanying drawings, a surface has been created in addition to the features for-l merly stated, for which the threads have been arranged in such a manner as to form tiny ridges and cross ridges upon the surface of the said material, thereby contributing to the perfection of the latter in regard to the prob.- lem of reiection, as the light projected upon a surface as thus described will be diffused and thus refiected evenly with no shadows or high lights as arise when light is reiected from' a polished or non-diusive surface, 75 when viewed from different angles.

While the said material thusoifers a me'- 1 dium for comparatively unrestricted transmission of sound and lperfect reflection, the

non-inflammable characteristics are imparted to the screen in the following manner. The material or fabric is first treated with a fire prooiin solution to the extent of permeating Vand ma ing it non-inflammable, after which a plastic nonlinlammable and waterproof chemical compound is applied to the said material or fabric on both sides.` Thus,in addi- .tion to being non-inflammable and waterproof in itself, this plastic chemical' compound serves as a seal to protect the in redi- 9 ents of the ireproofing solution former y applied to the fabric from evaporationupon contact with air or deteriorating or dissolving into solution whenexposed to water. Incdentally, as the plastic non-inflammable 95 chemical compound is waterproof, the said screen may be conveniently cleaned while remaining on the frame.

With the advantages thus added to the said screen material throughthe application of 1 ments of parts, hereinafter fully described,

said plastic non-iniammable and `waterproof chemical compound, it 'must be pointed out in this connection that the composition of the said, plastic chemical compound has been tempered in density to the eii'ect,.that the latter, when applied to the woven screen cloth, will not clog\up the air spaces, or entirely close the interstices among the threads, but

A 1 only further the objects formerly stated.

As a modification of my device', the said cloth may be made without any air spaces woven therein', except for the interstices that naturally wouldexist among the threads. In this case theair spaces may bev arranged in the said material, subsequent to the aforesaid treatment by the plastic noninflammable and waterproof chemical compound in any suitable manner, as for instance by a stamping process.

As the construction of this device, as de scribed, is rather simple the cost of manufacturing the same should be comparatively low.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists of the novelfeatures of construction, combination and arrangeclaimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part o f this specification, and in which similar characters of reference A indicate corresponding parts in all views, and

- up the said interstices,

in which: i

Figure 1 is a plan view ofa portion of a screen cloth vembodying my invention, and

showing the said cloth formed with'interstices among the threads for the passage of sound and` with a plastic non-inflammable and waterproof chemical compound applied,

thereto, subsequent to the treatment o the said material by a 'firep'roofing solution, the said plastic compoundbeing of a sufficient thinness in density as not to completely close thus allowing transmission of sound through the latter.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with airl spaces especially' woven in the cloth as a further means, in additionto the interstices among the threads,for.facilitating the passage of sound through the cloth, and with a plastic nonsinflammable and waterproof chemical compound 'applied to the said cloth, subsequent to a treatment of the latterr by a ircproong solution, the said plastic compound being of a sufficient thinness in density as not to completely close up the said interstices, thus a"v through the latter and also through the air spaces.

of my de'-l threads will not be especially in lowing transmission of soundlatter by a iireproofing solution, in such a manner thatthe said interstices among the entirely closed up by the said plastic compound, andin addition, to further facilitate the f passage of sound through the said screen the latter has, after the application of the said plastic chemical compound thereto, been provided with perforations or air spaces, for instance, by means of a stamping process.

Figure ,4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates a woven material or fabric, having a plastic chemical compound 11 applied thereto; 12 indicates the interstices among the threads and 18 the' 'woven air spaces, while '14 as for instance, bya stamping process. Y

The interstices have been closely arranged in the' said material, and serve, as shown, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, as a medium for the transmission of-sound. In addition larger air'spaces' have been added in Fig. 2, and perforations in Fig. 3.

In case of Vthe modifications shown in Fig. 3, it is quite evident, that the cloth employed herein may well be made without any of t'he ridges or cross-ridges formerly referred to.

It is obvious that changes may be .made in the form, construction and arrangement as shown, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not therefore limit myself to the construction and shown and described herein.

What I claim Aas by Letters 4Patent ofv theUnited States, is:

laims: v. 1'. A non-inflammable sound picture screen comprising a woven fabric formed with. in-

' weaving among the threads,

arrangement terstices 1n lthe the said fabric being submitted to a fireproof solution treatment and having afterwardsapplied to both sides -a plastic'non-iniammable and waterproof chemical compound, said plastic compound being of a density suitable for coveringthe threads of the said fabric, thus acting as a seal in preventing deterioration of the ingredientsof the'said fireproof solution from exposure to air or contact with water and at the same time' making said screen non-ina'mmable, waterproof and washable, the said plastic compound being of a suflicient thinness indensity as not to clog up or entirely close the said interstices thus allowing the passage of sound through said screen by way of the interstices.

2. A non-inflammable sound picture screen -comprising a woven fabric formed with in terstices and air spaces in the weaving among the threads, the said fabric being submitted to a reproof solution treatment and having afterwards applied to both sides'a plastic new, and desire to secure shows the air spaces, or perforations, arranged 1n the said material,

non-inammable and waterproof chemical compound, said plastic compound being of a density suitable for covering the threads of the said fabric, thus acting as a seal-in preventing deteriorationv of the ingredients of the said fireproof solution from` exposure to' air or contact wlth water and at the same time making said screen non-inflammable,-

waterp-roof and washable, the said 4plastic compoundbeing of a sufficient thinness in density as not to clog up or entirely close the said interstices and air spaces thus allowing f the passage of sound through saidscreen by way of the interstices and air spaces.

3. A non-inflammable soundpicture screen i plastic compound-being of a density suitable for covering the threads of the said fabric, thus acting as a seal in preventing deterioration of the ingredients of the said ireproof solution from exposure to air or contact with water and at the same time making said screen non-inflammable, waterproof and washable,

the said plastic compound beingof a suiiicient thinness in-density as not to clog up or entirely close the said interstices thus allowing the passage of soundthrough said screen by way of the interstices and at the lsame time giving by virtue of the ridged surface an evenly dif fused reflection to the picture displayed, substantially as shown and described.

4. A non-inflammable sound picture screen comprising a woven fabric having a ridged formed surfacev and being made with interstices and air spaces in the weaving among the threads, the said fabric being submitted to a fireproof solution .treatment and having afterwards applied to both sides a plasticnon-infia'mmable and waterproof chemical compound, said plastic compound being of a density suitable for covering the threads of the said fabric, thus acting as a seal in preventing deterioration of the ingredients of the said iireproof solution 'from exposure to air .or contact with water and at the same time making said screen non-inflammable, waterl proof and washable, the said plastic compound being of a suiicient thinness in density as not to clog up or entirely close the said interstices and air spaces thus allowing the passage of sound through saidV screen by way of solution treatment and Vhaving afterwards applied to both sides a' plastic non-inflammable and waterproof chemical compound, said plastic compound being of a density suitable for covering'the threads of the said fabric, thus acting as a seal .in preventing des! y terioration of the ingredients of the said ireproof solution from exposure to air or con'- tact with water and at the same time -making said screen non-inflammable, waterproof and washable, the said plastic compound being of a suiiicient thinness in density as not to clog up or entirely close thesaid interstices, the said screen being subsequently provided with air spaces by means of a stamping proc ess lthus ermitting the passage of sound through tllie interstices and air spaces.

6. -A non-inflammable sound picture screen, comprising a woven fabric having a ridged surface and being made with interstices among the threads and apertures inthe weaving, the said interstices being formed in the sol areas adjacent to the ridges, but outside the l latter, freproofv solution treatment andv having afterwards applied Ito. both sides a plastic non-inflammable and waterproof chemical compound, said plastic compound-being of a density suitable for covering the threads ofv .the fabric, thus acting as a seal in preventing deterioration of the ingredients of the said ireproof solution from exposure to air or contact with water, and at the same time maklng said screen non-inflammable, waterproof vand washable, the said plastic compound being of a sufficient thinness in density as not to clog up or entirely close the said interstices and alr spaces thus allowing the passage of sound through said screen by way of the interstices and 'air spaces and at the same time giving by virtue of the ridged surface an evenly play, substantially as shown and described.

the said fabric being submitted to a l diffused reflection to the picture dis- Signed at New. York city, in the county of New York and State offNew York, this 11th day of November, A. D. 1929..

WILLIAM J. SCHOONMAKER.

the interstices andv air spaces and at the same time giving by virtue of the ridged surface 

